Tongue-shield.



PATENTED JULY 25, 1905. H. GARDNER.

TONGUE SHIELD.

APPLIOATION FILED we. 21. 19o4.-

W [TN 45855- Altomey Mm I rsuuwh In momammmwm vlumlm ac l} NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY GARDNER, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO HENRY T. OFFTERDINGER, OF WASHINGTON, DIS- TRICT OF COLUMBIA.

TONGUE-SHIELD.

Patented July 25, 1905.

Application filed August 2'7, 1904. Serial No. 222,667.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HARRY GARDNER, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Washington, District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful im provements in tongue-shields for the protection of the tongue against heated and acrid gases, fumes, fluids, &c.as, for instance, in case of the smoking of tobacco, where the heated fumes from the pipe -stem, cigar holder, or like article impinge directly on the upper surface of the tongue; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a pipe having in combination with the stem thereof a tongue-shield embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a detached perspective view of a tongue- 4 shield embodying my invention, its application to a cigar-holder being indicated in dotted lines. Fig. 3 is a detached plan view of a tongue -shield embodying my invention. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a tongue-shield embodying my invention.

Like symbols refer to like parts wherever they occur.

It is well known to those having occasion to take into the mouth fumes or fluids of a heated or acrid nature that the impingement thereof on the upper surface of the tongue gives rise to disagreeable sensations. This is particularly the case in the smoking of freeburning orlight tobacco, and in addition thereto in the case of slow-burning or gummytobacco the vapors impregnated with nicotin are so highly objectionable to some smokers as to preclude entirely the use of a pipe, cigar-holder, or like article, notwithstanding nicotin-receptacles are provided in connec- 7 tion with the bowl or stem of the pipe.

In order to obviate the hereinbefore-recited objectionable features, I provide for application to and use with the stem or mouthpiece of a pipe, a cigar-holder, or like device a flexible shield adapted to intervene between the source of the heated or acrid fumes or fluids and the upper surface of the tongue upon which said fumes or fluids would otherwise impinge, and such a device embodies the main feature of my invention. In carrying out my invention said device may be struck, stamped, or otherwise produced from light sheets of any suitable material; but I prefer that the character of the material employed shall be not only flexible but pliable to such an extent as to permit the shield to readily apply itself to or curl up in front of the tongueas, for instance, sheet rubberand a flexible tongue-shield of such character, therefore, embodies a second feature of my invention.

There are other minor features of inven tion, all of which will be hereinafter more fully pointed out.

For pur oses of illustrating, but not as matter of imitation, the tongue-shield has been shown as applied to the mouthpiece of a tobacco-pipe, though as indicative of the scope of my invention the mouthpiece of the pipe may be taken as the tubular vent or spout of alike source of fumes or fluids against which the tongue is to be guarded.

In the drawings, A indicates the bowl, B the stem, and C the mouthpiece or bit of a pipe having applied thereto the tongueshield 1, which may be and preferably is made by stamping or otherwise forming the desired shape from a flexible rubber sheet, the form of said shield being such as to practically cover and protect that portion of the tongue against which the opening of the mouthpiece C impinges or to curl up in front of the orifice of said mouthpiece. In the present instance the outline of said tongueshield is shown as of general pear shape, or broader at the free end 2 than at the attached end 3, and as a means of attaching said tongue-shield to the mouthpiece C (or induc- I tion-tube) with which it is to be employed the contracted portion 3 is preferably provided with a plurality of transverse slits 4 4,

thus forming openings for the introduction of the mouthpiece C, as Well as a band or bands which surround the same. In lieu, however, of the slits 4 4 collars, bands, or other suitable means for connecting the tongue-shield to the mouthpiece with whichit is to be used may be employed, as shown in Fig. 4.

The tongue-shield herein described has not only for its function, which it fully accomplishes, the protection of the tongue from heated and acrid vapors, but in case rubber or its equivalent is employed the shield may permits his use of light, mild, and freeburn' ing tobacco Without experiencing any undue hot, dry, or burning sensation in the mouth, or, in other Words, the pipe gives a cooler smoke.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. As an article of manufacture, a flexible tongue-shield adapted to be secured to a tubular stem or like article, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

2. As an article of manufacture, a flexible tongue-shield provided With means adapted to engage a tubular stem or like article, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

3. As an article of manufacture, a flexible tongue-shield having an opening therein adapted to receive a tubular stem or like article, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

4. As an article of manufacture, a flexible tongue-shield having a plurality of openings therein adapted to receive a tubular stem or like article, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

5. As an article of manufacture, a flexible tongue-shield of less Width at one end than at the other, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

6. In a smokers article, the combination With the stem thereof, of a flexible tongueshield, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

7. As an article of manufacture, a flexible tongue-shield provided With a band adapted to engage a tubular stem or like article, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in presence of Witnesses, this 26th day of August, 1904.

HARRY GARDNER.

Witnesses:

HENRY T. OFFTERDINGER, ZACH. BREWER, HENRY J. Gnoss. 

